Provided 6-17-16
1516 RTKL 0181

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Office of School Safety

D i r e c t i v e #23

SUBJECT: Trespassing Ordinance and Arrest of Trespassers
I.
II.

III.

POLICY
A.
It is the policy of the School District of Philadelphia to enforce all Federal, State,
and City Government laws associated with trespassing.
DEFINITION
A.
The Trespassing Ordinance, Philadelphia Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10-824,
was passed by City Council to prevent unauthorized entry on school premises.
B.
Provisions of the Ordinance are as follows:
1.
A person who is neither employed by the School District of Philadelphia
nor a student/suspended student enrolled in the school system shall enter
any premises of the School District of Philadelphia without the expressed
consent of the person in charge of the premises.
2.
Failure to obtain consent within fifteen (15) minutes after entering the
facility will be considered as presumptive evidence of violation of the
ordinance.
3.
Employees and pupils of the School District of Philadelphia may not
enter facilities to which they are not regularly assigned without the
express consent of the person in charge.
4.
The ordinance exempts governmental officials who enter the facility
within the scope of their official duties during school and non-school
hours.
5.
If the trespasser leaves the premises and the police (Philadelphia PD or
School Police) cannot make an arrest, the principal will have to file a
complaint with the local Police District servicing that school.
PROCEDURE
A.
The principal or his/her designee must notify the Incident Control Desk
at (215) 400
B.
If the trespasser is apprehended, he/she should be turned over by the principal or
School Police personnel to the Philadelphia Police Department.
C.
If charges are to be pressed against the trespassers, a complaint will have to be
filed by the principal or designee at the local Police District servicing the school.
D.
For the purpose of the Trespassing Ordinance, the school yard may be
considered as school premises.
E.
The Law Department may be consulted for guidance.
F.
When a School Police Officer is on location, he/she will notify his/her immediate
supervisor and follow the guidelines specified in Incident Report - Directive 16
07-15-04
Revised 07-12-06
JUNE 2015
BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF SAFETY EXECUTIVE
OFFICE of SCHOOL SAFETY

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